Apparatus for conveying and temporarily storing products

Abstract

The apparatus comprises an incoming conveyor and a revolving device, in which grippers ( 9 ) circulate at a regular first spacing (T 1 ) over a closed circulating path ( 10 ). The grippers ( 9 ) can be individually switched between a first state, in which they take hold of the products ( 2 ) and carry them along, into a second state, in which they release the products from the grippers. At a transfer point ( 11 ) the grippers ( 9 ) pass above the incoming conveyor ( 1 ). They are switched at the transfer point ( 11 ) into the first state, in which they each take hold of a product and carry it along. A store ( 16 ) has carriers ( 19 ) which circulate at a regular second spacing (T 2 ) in a closed, second circulating path ( 15 ). The second circulating path ( 15 ) runs over a buffer region ( 20 ) parallel to the first circulating path ( 11 ). Within the buffer region ( 20 ) the grippers ( 9 ) can be switched into their second state. The circulating speed of the grippers ( 9 ) is greater than the circulating speed of the carriers ( 9 ). A control device ( 29 ) controls the switching of the grippers ( 9 ) into the second state in such a manner that each storage compartment ( 28 ) between adjacent carriers ( 19 ) downstream of the buffer region ( 20 ) contains a product ( 2 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for conveying and temporarily storing products ( 2 ), comprising: 
       an incoming conveyor ( 1 ),  
       a revolving device, in which grippers ( 9 ) circulate over a closed, first circulating path ( 10 ), said grippers ( 9 ) being individually switchable between a first state, in which they take hold of said products ( 2 ) and carry them along, into a second state, in which they release said products ( 2 ) from said grippers ( 9 ), said grippers ( 9 ), in a first transfer point ( 11 ), passing above said incoming conveyor ( 1 ) and, in said first transfer point ( 11 ), being in said first state or being switched into said first state and taking hold of said products ( 2 ) delivered on the incoming conveyor ( 1 ) and carrying them along, and said grippers ( 9 ) having a regular first spacing (T 1 ), at least outside a region of the first transfer point ( 11 ),  
       a store ( 16 ) having carriers ( 19 ) which circulate at a regular second spacing (T 2 ) in a closed, second circulating path ( 15 ), said second circulating path ( 15 ) running over a buffer region ( 20 ) parallel to said first circulating path ( 11 ) and said grippers ( 9 ) being switchable within said buffer region ( 20 ) into their second state, and said grippers ( 9 ) having a circulating speed being greater than a circulating speed of said carriers ( 19 ), and  
       a control device ( 29 ) which controls switching of said grippers ( 9 ) into said second state in such a manner that each storage compartment ( 28 ) between adjacent carriers ( 19 ) downstream of said buffer region ( 20 ) contains a product ( 2 ).  
     
     
       2. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the second circulating path ( 15 ) being arranged along said buffer region ( 20 ) below said first circulating path ( 11 ). 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said revolving device ( 3 ) being of circular or oval design. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said store ( 16 ) being of circular design and having a common axis of rotation ( 4 ) with said revolving device ( 3 ). 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said apparatus being connected to at least one outgoing conveyor ( 27 ,  30 ). 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising one incoming conveyor ( 1 ) and two outgoing conveyors ( 27 ,  30 ), and said incoming conveyor ( 1 ) being arranged in alignment with one of said outgoing conveyors ( 30 ). 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said first spacing (T 1 ) being larger than said second spacing (T 2 ) . 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said grippers ( 9 ) on said revolving device ( 3 ) being designed as carriers. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said grippers ( 9 ) being fixed in a pivotable manner on said revolving device ( 3 ). 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said products ( 2 ) being chocolate bars.